Swedish Female Writers

Britt Ekland is a Swedish actress, singer, and model. One of the leading actresses in Sweden during the 1960s and 1970s, Ekland also established herself as a sex symbol and achieved international prominence when she appeared as a Bond girl in The Man with the Golden Gun. Britt Ekland was also one of the most photographed actresses during the 1970s.

Astrid Lindgren was a Swedish writer remembered for authoring children's book series and children's fantasy novels. In 1967, the Astrid Lindgren Prize was established in her honor. Lindgren was honored with the Right Livelihood Award in 1994 for her work as a children's writer. In 2017, it was revealed that Lindgren is the 18th most translated author in the world. 

Selma Lagerlöf was a Swedish teacher and author. In 1909, Lagerlöf became the first woman to receive the prestigious Nobel Prize in Literature. In 1914, she became the first woman to be elected as a member by the Swedish Academy. In 1991, Selma Lagerlöf was depicted on a Swedish banknote, becoming the first woman to enjoy this honor, albiet posthumously.

One of Sweden’s most successful crime authors, Camilla Lackberg is known for her iconic books such as The Stonecutter, The Golden Cage, and The Stranger. Her books were also adapted into TV series. Called The Rock Star of Nordic Noir, she is also a former economist and a co-owner of a jewelry business.

Nelly Leonie Sachs, internationally noted German-Swedish poet and dramatist, wrote conventional romantic poems until the rise of Nazism brought about a drastic change in her life. Forced to flee to Sweden, she began writing about the grief and yearnings of her fellow Jews, concurrently translating German works into Swedish and vice-versa. She won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1966.

Gunilla von Post was a Swedish aristocrat best remembered for her 1997 book Love, Jack, which revealed an intimate relationship with John F. Kennedy during the 1950s. In 2010, Gunilla von Post auctioned some of the letters penned by Kennedy to her.

Swedish author, feminist, and political activist Eva Gabrielsson is also an architect who chiefly deals in house and office construction with sustainable architecture. She was a partner of Swedish author Stieg Larsson till his death. Apparently, they never married to keep their whereabouts a secret from extremists.

Taslima Nasrin is a Bangladeshi-Swedish writer, feminist, physician, activist, and secular humanist. An internationally recognized author, Nasrin is renowned for expressing feminist views and her criticisms of religions. Taslima Nasrin is a recipient of many prestigious awards such as the Sakharov Prize, Freethought Heroine Award, and Erwin Fischer Award.

Ingrid von Rosen was a Swedish diarist best remembered for her marriage with popular film director Ingmar Bergman. Ingrid von Rosen's diary, which is a part of Ingmar Bergman's biographical work Three diaries, revealed many secrets about their relationship and children.

Internationally renowned children’s book author and illustrator Lena Anderson began working in the publishing industry at age 16 and first gained fame with her book Linnea in Monet's Garden, which was one of her many collaborations with author Christina Björk. She is known for creating her much-loved character Maja.

Swedish poet and author Linda Bostrom Knausgard is known for her novels Helioskatastrofen and the August Prize-winning Välkommen til Amerika, or Welcome to America. She is also the former wife of Norwegian author Karl Ove Knausgård and the daughter of actor Ingrid Boström.

Apart from being a famous poet in Sweden, Karin Boye also gained international fame with her sci-fi novel Kallocain. She was one of the chief figures of Swedish modern poetry and of the Clarté Socialist movement. After separating from her economist husband, Leif Björk, she had 2 lesbian relationships. She died by suicide.

Swedish-born Dutch actor Amanda Ooms is best known for her appearance in the Swedish TV show Stjärnorna på slottet. She was also seen in The Expendables 2 and has been part of countless Swedish shows and movies. An author, too, she has penned books such as Tåla mod.

Mostly educated at home by her mother and her governess, Ellen Key grew up to be a well-known difference feminist author, concurrently playing important role in the Modern Breakthrough movement. Also a suffragist, she wrote on varied subjects including family life, ethics and education, advocating child centric teaching as well as parenting, inspiring many authors and educators including Maria Montessori.

Also known as Sweden's Beatrix Potter, Swedish children’s author Elsa Beskow is best remembered for her iconic books such as Children of the Forest and Pelle's New Suit. Elves, goblins, and farm animals often appeared as characters in her books. The Elsa Beskow Award was named in her honor.

Lisa Langseth is a Swedish film director and screenwriter. She is best known for directing films like Pure, Hotell, and Euphoria. After beginning her career as a theatre director and playwright, Langseth went on to establish herself as an acclaimed film director. Many of her films have achieved critical acclaim and have been premiered in film festivals around the world. 

Eva Dahlgren is a Swedish pop singer, songwriter, and musician. She is best known for her 1991 studio album En blekt blondins hjärta, which earned her five Swedish Grammy Awards and sold more than half a million copies. Eva Dahlgren is also credited with composing the score for the 2015 movie Ingrid Bergman: In My Own Words.

Hedi Fried is a Swedish-Romanian psychologist and author. She is best known as a Holocaust survivor, having passed through Bergen-Belsen as well as Auschwitz before reaching Sweden in July 1945. Over the years, Hédi Fried has been honored with several awards such as the Seraphim Medal, Natur & Kultur Culture Award, and Olof Palme Prize.

Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril is a Swedish writer best known for her debut novel Stjärneborg, which received the prestigious Katapult Prize in 2004. In addition to her work as a writer, Alexandra Coelho Ahndoril has also been a literary critic for Dagens Nyheter and Göteborgs-Posten, two of Sweden's largest newspapers.